Improvement in the manufacture of artificial whalebone



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

O. POPPENHUSEN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ARTIFICIAL WHALEBONE.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 20,299, dated May 18, 1858.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1,0. POPPENHUSEN, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful improvement in the process for the preparation of rattan to be used as asubstitute for whalebone for umbrella and parasol sticks and other purposes; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

The object of my invention is to render rattan more compact, strong, and elastic than it is in the natural state, with the View to render it 'more suitable than in the natural state as a substitute for whalebone, whether for umbrella or parasol sticks, or other purpose.

After cuttin g or otherwise bringing the rattan to about the size and form required for use, I subject it to any otthe well-known dyeing processes heretofore employed for this purpose, or to any other suitable dyeing process, to impart the required color; but, ifdesired, the dyeing process may be dispensed with, although I prefer dyeing it. The rattan is then to be saturated with linseed-oil, which is effected by first thoroughly boiling the oil to make it more glutinous. The rattan is then put in a strong vessel, from which air is to be exhausted by any suitable means, which has the effect of opening the the pores of the rattan, that the oil may the better penetrate, and then the boiled linseed-oil is admitted into the vessel, and when the rattan is thoroughly saturated with the oilit is taken out and, while the oil is in a viscid state, subjected to mechanical pressure. This forces out a portion of the oil and compresses and compacts the rattan, the oilacting as a cement to agglulinate the fibers, so that when dry the rattan thus treated is much more tough and elastic than in the natural state, and well adapted as a substitute for whalebone. Afterward the ratan so prepared may be polished and varnished as desired.

Aspbaltum or rosin may be mixed with the oil, and, in short, any substance may be added to the "oil which will increase its adhesive quality when dry, provided it will not seriously impede the absorbing action of-the rattan when immersed in the liquid.

I do not claim saturating rattan with dyeing materials or with boiled linseed-oil, as these processes have before been practiced; but

What I do claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

In' the preparation of rattan, subjecting it to mechanical pressure after it has been saturated with linseed-oil or equivalent substance and while the oil or other equivalentsaturating substance is in the viscid state, substantially as described.

, O. POPPENH USEN.

Witnesses:

WM. H. BISHOP, W 0. BROWN. 

